Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes?
Question: Recent research in boreal forest suggests that an ‘open matrix’ model may be more appropriate than the traditional model of spatially discrete gap dynamics for describing forest disturbance and regeneration, but what is the evidence from temperate broad-leaved deciduous forests concerning...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2014
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29058/ |
| _version_ | 1848793706272915456 |
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| author | Blackburn, George Alan Abd Latif, Zulkiflee Boyd, Doreen Sandra |
| author_facet | Blackburn, George Alan Abd Latif, Zulkiflee Boyd, Doreen Sandra |
| author_sort | Blackburn, George Alan |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Question: Recent research in boreal forest suggests that an ‘open matrix’ model may be more appropriate than the traditional model of spatially discrete gap dynamics for describing forest disturbance and regeneration, but what is the evidence from temperate broad-leaved deciduous forests concerning the prevalence of these alternative models?
Location: Semi-natural temperate broad-leaved deciduous forest in southern England.
Methods: Multi-temporal LiDAR data were used to monitor the changes in tree canopy height and canopy gaps over a 10-yr period for a 130-ha area of forest. Gap dynamics were characterized by quantifying gap creation, expansion, contraction and closure. By identifying the types and rates of canopy height transitions, areas of gap contraction and closure were attributed to the processes of lateral crown growth or vertical regeneration.
Results: Across the study site there was a zonation in canopy and gap properties and their dynamics. Many areas of the forest had the characteristics of open wood-pasture dominated by large, complex gaps being maintained under a regime of chronic disturbance. In these areas, several characteristics of the gap dynamics indicated that regeneration was restricted and this may be attributable to spatially-focused overgrazing by large herbivores. In contrast, other areas were characterized by high, closed canopy forest with small, discrete gaps where gap creation and infill were balanced.
Conclusions: At the landscape-scale broad-leaved deciduous forests contain a spatial mosaic of zones, which conform to different models of disturbance and regeneration dynamics; discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes are juxtaposed. It is now important to elucidate the abiotic factors and biotic interactions that determine the spatio-temporal distribution of the different regimes and to examine whether such a ‘regime mosaic’ model is applicable in other forest types. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:04:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-29058 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:04:33Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-290582020-05-04T16:47:34Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29058/ Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? Blackburn, George Alan Abd Latif, Zulkiflee Boyd, Doreen Sandra Question: Recent research in boreal forest suggests that an ‘open matrix’ model may be more appropriate than the traditional model of spatially discrete gap dynamics for describing forest disturbance and regeneration, but what is the evidence from temperate broad-leaved deciduous forests concerning the prevalence of these alternative models? Location: Semi-natural temperate broad-leaved deciduous forest in southern England. Methods: Multi-temporal LiDAR data were used to monitor the changes in tree canopy height and canopy gaps over a 10-yr period for a 130-ha area of forest. Gap dynamics were characterized by quantifying gap creation, expansion, contraction and closure. By identifying the types and rates of canopy height transitions, areas of gap contraction and closure were attributed to the processes of lateral crown growth or vertical regeneration. Results: Across the study site there was a zonation in canopy and gap properties and their dynamics. Many areas of the forest had the characteristics of open wood-pasture dominated by large, complex gaps being maintained under a regime of chronic disturbance. In these areas, several characteristics of the gap dynamics indicated that regeneration was restricted and this may be attributable to spatially-focused overgrazing by large herbivores. In contrast, other areas were characterized by high, closed canopy forest with small, discrete gaps where gap creation and infill were balanced. Conclusions: At the landscape-scale broad-leaved deciduous forests contain a spatial mosaic of zones, which conform to different models of disturbance and regeneration dynamics; discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes are juxtaposed. It is now important to elucidate the abiotic factors and biotic interactions that determine the spatio-temporal distribution of the different regimes and to examine whether such a ‘regime mosaic’ model is applicable in other forest types. Wiley 2014-05-27 Article NonPeerReviewed Blackburn, George Alan, Abd Latif, Zulkiflee and Boyd, Doreen Sandra (2014) Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? Journal of Vegetation Science, 25 (6). pp. 1341-1354. ISSN 1100-9233 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvs.12201/abstract;jsessionid=5D3D6170C01006782E9F43A4933BE167.f04t02 doi:10.1111/jvs.12201 doi:10.1111/jvs.12201 |
| spellingShingle | Blackburn, George Alan Abd Latif, Zulkiflee Boyd, Doreen Sandra Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? |
| title | Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of
discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? |
| title_full | Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of
discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? |
| title_fullStr | Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of
discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of
discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? |
| title_short | Forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of
discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? |
| title_sort | forest disturbance and regeneration: a mosaic of
discrete gap dynamics and open matrix regimes? |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29058/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29058/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29058/ |